Message given on June 1, 2008
Taking Heed against Unbelief
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 3:4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is
God.
Heb 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a
testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold
fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice,
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation
in the wilderness:
Heb 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always
err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:11 So I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you
be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence steadfast unto the end;
In the Old Testament stories of Israel and how God dealt with Israel we see can
learn from the experiences they went through. Through Israel we can learn what
pleases God and what displeases God. The land of Israel was promised to Abraham
years before he had any offspring to inherit what God promised him. We read of
how God later reminded Isaac and Jacob who later became Israel of that same
promise. After years of bondage in Egypt God sent Moses to deliver the
Israelites out of Egypt and bring them into the land of promise. Egypt
symbolizes the world or our bondage to sin. The promise land is symbolic of our
inheritance of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal
life.
The mistakes and short comings of Israel are similar to the mistakes and
shortcomings of the church and of us as individuals. Although God makes many
promises to the nation of Israel and those promises are still in effect,
salvation through Jesus Christ is an individual thing. In order to inherit
eternal life, each and every individual whether Jew or Gentile has to come to
Christ on their own. There is not group salvation. It is a decision all of us
have to make on our own.
I wish the doctrine of eternal security of the believer was true. That is once
we are born again by the spirit and have had our sins forgiven and cleansed by
the blood of Jesus, we can never be lost. But there are so many scriptures in
both the Old and New Testaments that warn of backsliding and sin. Salvation is
promised to those that believe to the point of turning from sin and turning to
Christ but along with that salvation is many take heeds, ifs and warnings from
Jesus Himself to repent and do the first works if one has fallen away from their
first love.
Because of unbelief the first generation of the children of Israel that came out
of the land of Egypt with Moses, were forbidden to enter the Promised Land.
Unbelief led to murmuring and complaining, fear and rebellion that followed and
caused them to lose out on the promise. That can happen to us as believers
today.
Remember the verses I read previously:
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you
be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence steadfast unto the end;
In Hebrews chapter 4:
Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into
his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word
preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
It is possible to start out great but allow unbelief to enter into us and that
will be the first step back into sin and into the life we lived before we came
to Christ.
This is why we gather together to hear the word and worship. It strengthens our
faith and helps guard against unbelief. Without faith it’s impossible to please
God. Unbelief is the opposite of faith. When we forget that Christ has cleansed
us from sin, that is the first step to returning to the sin we are cleansed
from.
Just as Israel was promised a land flowing with milk and honey if they would
obey God, salvation is given to those that obey Jesus Christ.
1. Ww hold fast our confidence and hope in Christ
2. We obey His words.
Hebrews 5: 7-9 speaking of Jesus Christ:
Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and
supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him
from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he
suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto
all them that obey him;
There is ifs, and many take heeds all through the scriptures. Not only by the
apostles but by our Lord Jesus Himself.
We must press forward and not look back. We must continue in the doctrine that
was once delivered to the saints. Do not take the word of any television
preacher, the pastor or myself. Be as the Bereans and check out all we say by
the written word. We do not have time to stand and read the whole bible and can
sometimes only quote a few verses to prove the points we try to make. It is a
great idea to write down the verses and later look them up but study the
chapters before and after the verses I give or anyone else gives. Even if I make
a mistake and get it wrong you will be blessed and strengthened by the study
alone.
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat
down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are
sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had
said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,
saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I
write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the
veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having a high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he
is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good
works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
We see from these scriptures that salvation is supposed to be eternal. We are to
draw near to God with assurance after having been cleansed from sin. If I quoted
only verses 16 and 17 and didn’t read further, we could get an eternal security
message but as we read further, we see warnings to hold fast our profession of
faith without wavering and provoke unto love and good works, not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of
the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,
which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three
witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy,
who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the
covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite
unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will
recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense
of reward.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of
God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet, a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will
not tarry.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul
shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul.
We must continue forward and not look back to Egypt like the early Israelites
did. They began to lust after the food and the things they had in Egypt
forgetting that they were in bondage. If we look back into our past and desire
the things Jesus saved us from, we too could forget how deep in bondage we were
in and how Jesus paid a great price to free us from that bondage. The flesh
desires to return to those old ways and still think eternal life is there for
the taking just because we made a one time decision to accept Jesus Christ. Yet
we know that it is not what happened years ago that matters it is what we are
today.
Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be
turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall
see the Lord:
Remember the example of Esau. Esau was the firstborn and was to inherit the
blessing handed down from his father Isaac. Esau was so hungry one time that he
sold that birthright to Jacob just to satisfy his natural hunger for food. He
cared more for the temporary things than for his inheritance. He lost the
blessing. This is one reason that a fasting helps us overcome the flesh and walk
in the spirit. Sometimes instead of eating to live, we live to eat.
The message of salvation is easy to understand but we must continue in the word
and abide in Christ. How would a marriage work if we had a beautiful wedding
with all the trimmings but after we were married we spent very little time with
our spouse and went our own way and did our own thing? Sooner or later any
couple would drift apart and they would have no marriage.
If we come to Christ, we then begin to walk with Christ, abide in Christ and
obey His teachings. We begin to walk in the spirit and by doing that we overcome
the desires of the flesh that are defeating us.
In James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit
the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted
from the world.
The world and God do not mix. The Holy Spirit dwells in a vessel that God has
cleansed.
1Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Lusts of the flesh, the pride of life and lust of the eye wars against the
things of the spirit.
2Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and
election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein,
and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a
new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent
that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest
ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own
steadfastness.
The same bible that tells of the new birth, the living water and salvation by
grace also warns us against losing that which we have by neglect and unbelief.
1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
sin.
We are cleansed from sin as we continue to walk in the light.
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old
ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jud 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how
that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward
destroyed them that believed not.
Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own
habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the
judgment of the great day.
Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert
cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
spew thee out of my mouth.
Remember Christ’s warning the church in Revelation that had gotten lukewarm.
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have
your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children:
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself
for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be
once named among you, as becometh saints;
Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous
man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things
cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
We have been given a new and better way to live. We can overcome the flesh and
walk in the spirit but it takes determination to hold out and not look back.
Remember Lot’s wife.
Emma sometimes sings a song called, “I am determined to hold out til the end.”
That is what we need to do.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every
branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in
him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is
withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
God never left us without a way out. He sent Jesus as a way out of sin, He sent
the Holy Spirit to sanctify us by the word and by the spirit. In other words we
continue on with Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to take away the old desires
and give us new desires in its place. God provided the written word so that we
could know how to receive all these promises and then on top of all that He
endues us with power by that which we call the baptism with the Holy Spirit
which is promised to all that believe. All these things is ours but like the
seed that fell on both good and bad ground some of us just go so far and get our
sins forgiven and get just enough to last from one meeting to the next and do
not seek God for a deeper walk and overcoming power that will allow us to walk
in the spirit. When we follow God afar off, we are weak and will not be
victorious. We do not have to follow Him afar off; we can have the living water
flowing in and out bubbling over onto others. It is ours for the asking.
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your
children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them
that ask him?
Dorna J Chambers
